In recent years, there has been a rise in customers using online booking software to book appointments and prepay for services. Booking software is efficient, and convenient, helps increase revenue, improves customer satisfaction, and helps you save time. It has helped owners save time by not having to schedule appointments on behalf of clients. Additionally, it helps businesses avoid double bookings by not allowing customers to book appointments in time slots that are already filled. Lastly, customers prefer online booking and even seek out businesses that offer scheduling software that allows them to prepay for your services. 

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It's easy to see that online booking software has numerous advantages! Check out different scheduling software to see which is right for you. 

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Client Management:

Squire and Square both provide centralized client information with client cards on file and allow you to maintain client profiles and histories on their databases. Both also provide automatic notifications and reminders of client appointments and activities. Square additionally provides the option to import old clients and invite new ones onto the booking software, personally message clients about upcoming appointments, and keep track of transaction history.

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Brand Management:

Brand management on Squire allows you to create a custom mobile app that includes your branding and reports. Additionally, Squire offers website and social media integrations which makes it easier for potential clients to book an appointment with you. On the other hand, brand management on Square allows you to create a customizable shoppable website that allows customers to shop online. Additionally, customers can book appointments with you directly from your custom-branded website

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Appointments:

Booking appointments online is made easy with Square and Squire. To make sure you have a constant flow of appointments, this booking software has the option to waitlist clients when appointments become available, and this software help schedule recurring appointments. Squire offers streamlined booking and can be integrated with Google, Instagram, Facebook, and more. In addition, Squire offers a walk-in kiosk for anyone who didn’t book an appointment in advance and allows you to take prepayments for anyone who booked online. Yet, Square offers additional security when booking appointments by taking prepayments, blocking repeated no-show clients, and tweaking appointments. Square also gives you the option to sync your appointments with your Google Calendar. Also, customers can book directly from your website by adding the booking widget, compatible with sites powered by Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, and more. Square also lets clients book multiple services with different service providers on your booking site, and streamline checkout with a single transaction and automatic tip splitting.

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Business Management:

When it comes to business management, Squire offers a vast variety of tools such as staff management, inventory management, booth rental, and scheduling management, leaderboard analytics, referral tracking, payroll management, and performance metrics, and allows you to manage shifts, commissions, and tips. Both Squire and Square allow availability and booking management along with the option to include multiple locations. Square offers class management features, customizable policies, and waivers, staff management, multi-location stock management, sales reports, Instagram integration, ring-up barcodes using your iPad camera or bar code scanner, and employees can have their accounts that they can personally manage.

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Payment Processing:

Squire helps with payment processing using an integrated register and card reader. This software also notes product sales and inventory tracking and reporting. Square Appointments POS system allows you to easily take payments with a processing fee between 2.5-3.5%. Square accepts Cash App pay and allows customers to pay in installments with Afterpay. Both software provides the option for contactless payments, and prepayments and will auto-charge no-shows. 

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Marketing Tools:

Both booking software offers robust marketing tools to help engage customers and promote your business. Squire enables you to market to your clients directly with customer engage™, it offers Google business site integration, and you can create promo codes, gift cards, and loyalty programs to help with customer retention and acquisition. On the other hand, you can send custom email marketing campaigns to engage with your customers with Square Marketing. Square Loyalty is a loyalty program that gives customers an incentive to return to your business. Plastic gift cards and eGift cards with your custom branding are available to make shopping easier using Square.  

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Target Market:

Square’s target market is directed towards a variety of businesses including hair and beauty salons, barbershops, personal training, spas and nail salons, tutoring and music lessons, health and wellness, home repair and cleaning, and professional services. Yet, Squire is primarily intended for barbershops, salons, nail bars, and spas.

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Pricing:

Squire’s pricing for an individual barber: PRO Independent Barber ($30/month) and Executive Independent Barber ($100/month). Pricing for multiple barbers with one location: PRO ($100/month), Executive ($150/month per location), and Titan ($250/month per location). Squire also allows for multiple locations at an additional cost. 

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Square offers a free plan with basic features to run your business and stay ahead of schedule at a single location. Square Plus offers more advanced features for growing teams starting at $29 per month per location. Square’s complete plan is $69 per month per location and offers a complete plan for all your booking and staff management needs.

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Regardless of which platform you choose, you’ll still need your phone calls answered and Lovage is the best choice! Lovage works with both Square and Squire.